Police Wrap – 2 January

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an aggravated robbery in Griffith today (Saturday, December 27), in which a woman armed with a syringe robbed a supermarket.

Police were called to the location around 12.10pm today when it was reported that a woman had entered the premises, leant across the counter, threatened a staff member with the syringe and then escaped with a sum of cash.

The offender was last seen headed toward the adjacent park and Stuart St.

The female offender is described as being of large build, of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, with a dark complexion and dark hair tied up at the back. She was wearing a white cap, a white T-shirt with black pattern – possibly circular – on the front, three-quarter navy-blue pants and white sneakers. She is estimated around 163cm (5’4”) tall, and aged between 25-30 years.

Police would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious behaviour in the area of the Griffith shops around the time of the robbery, may know a person who answers to this description, or any other information which could assist the investigation to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a burglary at St Clare’s College in McMillan Crescent, Griffith in which a number of computers were stolen.

The burglary was reported to police today (Monday, December 29) but is suspected to have occurred between Christmas Eve (December 24) and early today.

Around 50 new Lenovo computer hard drives were stolen from the school. The hard drives are all branded as “ThinkCentres” and many are pre-loaded with Windows software.

Police investigating the incident believe that a van or small truck would have been required to transport the computers from the location and are urging anyone who may have seen any suspicious vehicles or persons on or around the campus from Christmas Eve onwards to report the details by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the website at www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.

Police remind people that receiving stolen property is a serious criminal offence. Anyone offered these items for sale should contact Crime Stoppers. Information can be provided to Crime Stoppers anonymously.

A 20-year-old Kingston man will be summonsed to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court to answer a number of charges relating to serious traffic offences.

This follows an investigation by ACT Policing Traffic Operations following the recent posting of videos onto a website that allegedly showed a motorcycle rider travelling at high speeds on Canberra’s streets. The videos also allegedly showed the motorcycle rider committing a number of other serious traffic offences.

Last night police executed a search warrant at an address in Kingston where they located and seized a number of items including a hard drive, laptop and a video camera. They also seized what will be alleged to be unedited video of the offences.

Earlier today, police located the motorcycle allegedly involved in the incidents at an address in Kambah.

The 20-year-old man attended City Police Station this afternoon where he was interviewed by police. He will face ACT Magistrates Court at a date yet to be fixed.

Superintendent Mark Colbran from ACT Policing Traffic Operations said: “ACT Policing takes these types of offences very seriously. As a result of some very good work from officers in Traffic Operations, this investigation was quickly concluded and it should send a message to anyone who seeks to glorify actions that place the lives of innocent people in danger, that these actions will not be tolerated.”

ACT Policing were generally pleased with the behaviour of New Year’s Eve revellers with 28 people arrested across Canberra overnight.

New Year’s Eve Police Commander Superintendent Matt Varley said the arrests mostly related to anti-social behaviour and public drunkenness.

“Police arrested 28 people across the ACT overnight– mainly for anti-social behaviour such as fighting in a public place, being intoxicated and disorderly, obstructing police and failing to comply with a police direction,” Supt Varley said.

“An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged for assaulting two male police officers and he is expected to front the ACT Magistrates Court later today. The officers received minor injuries from the incident with one needing treatment at The Canberra Hospital for concussion.”

Throughout the night police also detained 31 juveniles for underage drinking. These people were officially cautioned and returned to their parents or guardians.

“It was disappointing to see the number of underage drinkers detained throughout the evening. I urge parents to pay more attention to the whereabouts of their children. Know where they are, who they are with and what they plan to do,” Supt Varley said.

“Overall however the great majority of revellers were generally well-behaved and there were no major incidents or issues across the territory,” he said.

Police estimate in excess of 15,000 people attended the Civic area to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks and festivities with hundreds of revellers also converging on the Kingston and Manuka entertainment precincts to welcome in 2009.

“Despite the large crowds across Canberra’s main entertainment areas, the number of arrests made overnight was actually comparable to your normal Friday or Saturday night,” Supt Varley said.

“It appears the great majority of people heeded our advice and welcomed the New Year in a responsible and considered manner.”

With the Summernats car festival commencing today ACT Policing has warned drivers and patrons that reckless and dangerous driving behaviour on Canberra’s roads will not be tolerated.

ACT Policing Superintendent Michael Chew said while certain driving behaviours may be permitted within the event drivers and patrons are not to engage in the same behaviour on ACT roads.

“Throughout the Summernats event ACT Policing will have a high visibility presence around the EPIC area. Police will also conduct regular patrols of the surrounding suburbs and will in no way tolerate anti-social behaviour or unsafe driving practices which could endanger the lives of drivers, or of others,” Supt Chew said.

Although anti-social behaviour and general security within the Summernats event will be the responsibility of organisers, officers will staff a police shop front within the event from 7am to 11pm each day.

“ACT Policing will be on hand to assist Summernats’ security should the situation dictate,” Supt Chew said. “With New Year’s Eve and Summernats being held one after another we have planned early for these events and resourced accordingly.”

ACT residents and interstate visitors should also be aware that designated alcohol-free zones, well marked by signs, will be in place around areas of Downer, Watson, Mitchell and on either side of Northbourne Avenue near Mitchell. Police will be patrolling these zones and will monitor driving behaviour within the Braddon area, following incidents of reckless driving in previous years.

Police will also be conducting random breath testing, together with the checking of licences, vehicle registration details and compulsory third party insurance. They will also be focussing on any vehicles suspected of being unroadworthy.

“ACT Policing encourages people to enjoy themselves and have a good time during Summernats however ensure you do so in accordance with the law,” Supt Chew said.

Superintendent Mark Colbran from ACT Policing Traffic Operations said: “ACT Policing takes these types of offences very seriously. As a result of some very good work from officers in Traffic Operations…”

Looks like Kramer’s been deputised. I guess your badge is in the mail.

It’s just been on the news that Chic Henry himself was (not) done for speeding – 48k over the speed limit in the 40 zone at Exhibition Park. He said he missed the sign – no way! I drove that road the other day and there were about 5 signs. He was given a warning only …

Specifically : “He and his wife are not able to have a child together, but in November 2006 they gained a daughter conceived and born with the assistance of an egg donor and a surrogate mother. These two women, who were friends of the Conroys, have decided to remain anonymous”

His views on families carry as much weight as that other barren politician, julie gillard.

Donor egg? Surrogacy? That’s 2 consecutive life sentences. As for the barren Julia, for not having one for Mum, Dad, God, Country and Costello… that’s 5. Aw, why not we just commute these to a capital sentence each?

As for commenting on families, only married couple (different sex, and by different I don’t mean any kinky stuff) with exactly 2.16 children are qualified to utter anything. Everyone else can go to hell (and they will).

As for commenting on families, only married couple (different sex, and by different I don’t mean any kinky stuff) with exactly 2.16 children are qualified to utter anything. Everyone else can go to hell (and they will).

… remembering to leave their taxes at the door, as the families have learned that some must-have new Wii games and a new and better plasma TV are soon to be released.

oh, I better run down to JB Hifi now, should I? and the taxes I have paid over the years to support the current welfare system mean jack now? if rudd wants to give me 3k back in a bribe to spend money for the economy, that is his wish. I, as already mentioned, put it in the BANK – as a reserve mortgage payment. no plasmas here. or a wii, for that matter.

Watko_88, I’m assuming you are a ‘friends’ of Joel’s and therefore have a message for you. You are not a good mate. If you were you would have stopped this clown ages ago rather than letting him continue to act like a complete an utter moron. What Joel did isn’t funny and he deserved to get caught. I hope he gets lots of bruises when the book that will be thrown at him on Court hits him.

If you do think you’re a mate of this idiot then I would advise you to spend an afternoon looking in the mirror before giving yourself an uppercut.

I would go to court to throw books at him too, but I don’t think they’d let me. This Joel fellow didn’t quite make it to the Darwin Awards, but probably does qualify for the Book of Heroic Failures … fancy YouTubing it!!

*guffaw*

Can’t wait to see the next offerings as recorded live from the new Alexander Maconochie Centre!